Car / Motorcycle

Find out about the traffic rules! Even if you don't know a rule, you can be penalized for the mistake. For example:

• All vehicles must always drive on the right. 
• Be considerate of other road users.
• When driving cars and motorcycles, the lights must always be switched on.
• All persons in a car must wear a seatbelt. 

Maximum speed:

• 120 km/h on motorways
• 100 km/h on motorways
• 80 km/h outside built-up areas / city limits
• 50 km/h within built-up areas / city limits

If you drive a car or motorcycle, you will need a driver's license.

Do you have a foreign driver's license? This allows you to drive in Switzerland for a maximum of 12 months (from entry). Exchange it for a Swiss driver's license as early as possible.

Canton of SG: Exchange your driving licence

Contact
Road Traffic and Shipping Office of the Canton of St.  Gallen
Frongartenstrasse 5
9001 St. Gallen

Phone: +41 58 229 22 22
Email: info.stva@sg.ch

To be allowed to drive on the motorway, you need a Autobahn-Vignette . It costs CHF 40.00 and is valid for the current year. There are no daily or monthly vignettes.

Gas station shops, the post office and customs sell the sticker. 

You can now also buy an electronic vignette: E-vignette

In winter, it happens that there is snow and black ice on the roads. That's why winter tyres make sense. There is no law that requires winter tires, but you must be able to control your vehicle in every situation.

In summer, summer tyres are useful because of high temperatures.

Children must be properly secured in the car.

Children under 12 years of age need a child seat in the car if they are shorter than 1.50 m.

For older children, the seat belt is sufficient.

Official parking spaces are marked and usually subject to a fee.

In parking garages and public parking lots, there are ticket machines and parking meters where you can pay either in cash or by card or with an app.

In the case of blue parking spaces – "Blaue Zone " – you can park free of charge for a certain period of time. To do this, place your own blue parking disc with the current time clearly visible in the front of the car.

Do you want to transfer a vehicle from abroad to the canton of St.Gallen?

You must register the foreign vehicle within 12 months of entry. Before registration, the vehicle must be presented at an inspection centre: 

• 9425 Thal / Buriet
• 8887 Mels
• 8722 Kaltbrunn
• 9245 Oberbüren

To register, you will need:

• vehicle liability insurance. You will receive proof of insurance from your insurance company.
• Registration from the country of origin (e.g. foreign vehicle registration document)
• Confirmation that the vehicle has been cleared through customs
• the inspection report that you will receive from customs or your car repair shop/garage
• an identity card (identity card, passport or foreigner's card)
• a confirmation of residence or a registration certificate

Further information from the Canton of St.Gallen can be found here: Vehicle import

To register and if you have any questions, please contact:

Road Traffic and Shipping Office of the Canton of St.Gallen
Frongartenstrasse 5
9001 St.Gallen

Phone: +41 58 229 22 22
Email: info.stva@sg.ch

To drive a car or a motorcycle, you need a driver's license. To do this, you must attend courses and take two exams (theory and practice).

The minimum age for the courses and the theory exam is 17 years, for the practical exam 18 years.

Driving test requirements

Your vehicle must be regularly checked for road safety and environmental emissions.

This applies to every vehicle registered in the canton of St.Gallen. It is not possible to lift this obligation to check.

You can find more information here: Vehicle inspection Canton of St.Gallen

You will be automatically called up based on your place of residence and the exam interval. You can reschedule the appointment you received here if you can't set it up:

Postponement of vehicle inspection

The Road Traffic Act requires the conclusion of mandatory motor liability.

This insurance is necessary so that a driver does not have to pay for personal injury and/or property damage himself.

If you've ever been involved in a car crash, then you know that the cost of damage can get very expensive very quickly.